A QUEEN'S JEWEL

Evening Star, Issue 20129, 20 March 1929, Page 2

A QUEEN'S JEWEL

TRACED TO CHRISTCHURCH ILL-FATED MARY'S GIFT TO GALLANT HELD BY DUNEDIN DESCENDANT f Special to tub ‘Stak.'J CHRISTCIIUJtCif, March -JO. A letter lias been received by the editor 01. Ibe ‘ Sun,' extracts lioui which are given below;—"Through your advertising columns I have eventually .succeeded in tracing a very interesting antique, of which i would like to tell you. About 400 years ago Queen Mary ot Scots gave to a lavourite gallant a rare and beautiful bangle to be handed on through his line as an heirloom, One hundred years ago an client to ‘ place ’ the bangle resulted in its being traced as far as New Zealand, and there all (race was lost. During the reign of Queen Victoria, she herself offered Co,UUP reward to anyone who could bring the bangle to her, but without success. Finally my lather took up the quest, and we have travelled everywhere. At last, iu November last, 11 e .succeeded in locating the bangle in Christchurch. We now leave for flic Old Country lo see il the old oiler holds good. One ol the M/Plierson Clan lias also olicred ,a large .sum for the bangle. I, I rust this will interest you, and that .someone will decide to keep the bangle in little New Zealand."

The letter, which was signed by Noel M'Phersuii, private inquiry agent. Fdiuburgh, gave also an address at which might be seen Queen Mary's gilt to her gallant. A ‘Sun’ reporter, calling there, learned a little more of the bangle s history. ” I've always known that the bangle was old and valuable,’’ said its present possessor, who is a daughter ol the lave Mr J. M. Passmore, ot Dunedin ; " tor, when I was a very little girl, i was allowed to wear it only on the most special occasions, and was ali\ ays admonished to lake great care ot il. 'The bangle, which had been brought to New Zealand by my mother's mother, who was a M'.Pliersou, was kept in a sate between public appearances, and we children were told that it was a queen's jewel. \\ ben I married and left Dunedin, ilie bangle stayed behind, but when my little daughter was born my mother sent it lo me. The tradition is that by the Queen's command, the gill must go to tile favourite girl in every succeeding

generation. I learned that, and a lew other details, Irom a M'Pherson ol I lie deepest dye-, a splendid old man who. once he had seen the bangle,' simply followed me about the city, and rebuked me in a ‘ bools, lassie ’ sort o! letter tor being s 0 foolish as to wear it in public. lie told me that the legendary gallant went by the name of lan M'Pherson, and that the gilt was a sacred and lucky thing in the M'Pherson Clan. I don’t know whether that is really so, but 1 do know that my little girt, Millie, lias worn the Queen s bangle at a Ft. .Margaret's College gathering, and that its qiiaintness has attracted a good deal ol' attention. I have written Dome to Christie's to give them some idea ol the bangle, lor it is my mother's wish that it should be sold. In the meantime il si ill stays sale and sound in Christchurch, and has puzzled many jewellers, who are rather at a, loss about the nature of the stones with which it is set.’’